BBeiraLife
DIGITAL ALMANAC · EUROPE/LISBON

Historical events for
Sunday, 17 March 2024

  • Birth

    Anders Dahl

    Anders Dahl (born March 17, 1751, and died May 25, 1789) was an eminent Swedish botanist. A brilliant disciple of Linnaeus, his rigorous classifications and scientific expeditions enriched modern botany, and his name was immortalized in the taxonomy of the Dahlia flower.

    25/5/1789
  • Birth

    Nat King Cole

    Nat King Cole (born March 17, 1919, and died February 15, 1965) was a legendary American singer and pianist. With an unmistakable baritone voice, he broke racial barriers in the entertainment industry and cemented himself as one of the greatest icons of global jazz and pop.

    15/2/1965
  • Birth

    Rudolf Nureyev

    Rudolf Nureyev (born March 17, 1938, and died January 6, 1993) was an extraordinary dancer and choreographer of Tatar origin. His defection from the Soviet Union in 1961 shocked the world, and his magnetic technique definitively revolutionized the male role in classical ballet.

    6/1/1993
  • Birth

    Elis Regina

    Elis Regina (born March 17, 1945, and died January 19, 1982) was one of the greatest and most influential voices in the history of Brazilian music. Her passionate interpretation and unmatched vocal technique left an immortal legacy in MPB.

    19/1/1982
  • Birth

    Kurt Russell

    Kurt Russell (b. 1951) is a renowned and versatile American actor. With an excellent career transitioning from a child star at Disney studios to an icon of action and cult films, his enduring partnership with director John Carpenter defined an era of success in Hollywood.

  • Birth

    Billy Corgan

    Billy Corgan (b. 1967) is an influential American musician, songwriter, and lead singer. As the creative force and frontman of the band Smashing Pumpkins, his dense musical vision and innovative compositions helped decisively shape the sound of alternative rock in the 1990s.

  • Birth

    Hozier

    Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known simply as Hozier (b. 1990), is a sublime Irish singer and songwriter. His poetic fusion of blues, soul, and indie rock, allied with his deep voice, generated monumental hits like "Take Me to Church".

  • History

    Creation of the Information Police (Predecessor of PIDE)

    On March 17, 1928, Decree No. 15:195 determined the merger of the information police of Lisbon and Porto into a single national body. This new police force, of a markedly secret and political nature, planted the structural seed that would pave the way, years later, for the foundation of the PVDE and the infamous PIDE during the Estado Novo.

  • History

    Signing of the Iberian Pact

    On March 17, 1939, the dictatorships of Portugal and Spain signed the Treaty of Friendship and Non-Aggression, known as the Iberian Pact. This strategic agreement between Oliveira Salazar and the neighboring Spanish nation ensured neutrality and safeguarded peninsular stability on the eve of the Second World War.

  • History

    Launch of the Portuguese tanker S. Brás

    On March 17, 1942, the tanker "Sam Brás" was launched, the first oil tanker built in Portugal. Developed at the Arsenal do Alfeite, it assumed a vital role for the Portuguese Navy, ensuring the strategic supply of liquid fuels to the country during the effort of the Second World War.

  • History

    Inauguration of the Council of the Revolution

    On March 17, 1975, the inauguration of the Council of the Revolution took place in Lisbon. Led by General Costa Gomes, this influential political-military body assumed national strategic control, replacing the National Salvation Junta to guide the complex process of democratic transition in Portugal.

  • History

    Start of the Apple vs. Microsoft lawsuit

    On March 17, 1988, Apple Computer initiated a historic lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging that the Windows 2.0 operating system violated the copyrights of the Macintosh graphical interface. The lengthy process set fundamental precedents for intellectual property and patent laws in the technology sector.

  • History

    St. Patrick's Day

    Marked on March 17, St. Patrick's Day is Ireland's national celebration honoring its patron saint. The event has transcended religious boundaries, transforming into a global cultural phenomenon that extols Irish heritage, music, and tradition.